Browse

Grade Levels

Test Prep

Academic Subjects

Foreign Language

Dynamo Close Button What is this?

The percentage shows how you rank against everyone else in the Word Dynamo universe. The highest Word Score on Word Dynamo right now is .

The more you play, the more your Word Score will increase. This equals higher test scores, better essays, wittier conversation, and more.

Help us build the new Word Dynamo app!   Take this quick survey now.

X

Flag as inappropriate

Words You Probably Don't Know - Expand Your Mind

Word List with 110 words
By Lochlyn

Play
Click Play when you want to study these words and see how well you know them.
Print
|
Share
|

Choose a Game

  • match

    Match

    Match each word to its definition.

  • crossword

    Crossword

    Play these words in a crossword puzzle.

  • listen

    Listen

    Hear the word and select its definition.

  • flashcards

    Flashcards

    Practice terms and definitions at your own pace.

Words in This List

supercilious
a
haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.
meretricious
a
alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
gauche
a
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless
susurration
n
a soft murmur; whisper.
veritable
a
being truly or very much so
See all words ‣
concupiscible
a
worthy of being desired.
sentience
n
sentient condition or character; capacity for sensation or feeling.
escutcheon
n
a shield or shieldlike surface on which a coat of arms is depicted.
specious
a
apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible
asseverate
vo
to declare earnestly or solemnly; affirm positively; aver.
taciturn
a
inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.
cacoethes
an irresible urge; mania
superlative
a
of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme
alabaster
n
a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.
culminate
vw
to reach the highest point, summit, or highest development (usually followed by ).
inveigle
vo
to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements (usually followed by )
feign
vo
to represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of
irremeable
a
permitting no return to the original place or condition; irreversible.
anticipation
n
the act of anticipating or the state of being anticipated
seraph
n
one of the celestial beings hovering above God's throne in Isaiah's vision. Isa. 6.
sagacity
n
acuteness of mental discernment and soundness of judgment.
effervescent
a
effervescing bubbling.
fugacious
a
fleeting; transitory
chthonic
a
of or pertaining to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth.
amaranthine
a
unfading; everlasting
surreptitious
a
acting in a stealthy way.
licentious
a
sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.
adamantine
a
utterly unyielding or firm in attitude or opinion.
obsequious
a
characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning
gimcrack
n
a showy, useless trifle; gewgaw.
impune
to call into question; to insinuate against
reticent
a
disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.
impregnable
a
strong enough to resist or withstand attack; not to be taken by force, unconquerable
somatic
a
of the body; bodily; physical.
serendipity
n
an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.
anabasis
n
a march from the coast into the interior, as that of Cyrus the Younger against Artaxerxes II, described by Xenophon in his historical work (379
catachresis
n
misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.
perchance
adv.
perhaps; maybe; possibly.
capricious
a
subject to, led by, or indicative of caprice or whim; erratic
confabulation
n
the act of confabulating conversation; discussion.
nocuous
a
likely to cause damage or injury; harmful; noxious.
extemporaneous
a
done, spoken, performed, etc., without special advance preparation; impromptu
austere
a
severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding
byzantine
complex or intricate
prevacate
vo
to give up possession or occupancy of
descry
to catch sight of; to detect
unctuous
a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness
mendacious
a
telling lies, especially habitually; dishonest; lying; untruthful
beholden
a
obligated; indebted
abrogate
vo
to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal
circumspect
a
watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent
irascible
a
easily provoked to anger; very irritable
ambisinister
a
clumsy or unskillful with both hands.
eschew
vo
to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid
pullulate
vw
to send forth sprouts, buds, etc.; germinate; sprout.
apodictic
a
incontestable because of having been demonstrated or proved to be demonstrable.
somniferous
a
bringing or inducing sleep, as drugs or influences.
denigrate
vo
to speak damagingly of; criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame
equivocate
vw
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge
proclivity
n
natural or habitual inclination or tendency; propensity; predisposition
inexorable
a
unyielding; unalterable
exacerbate
vo
to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
turpitude
n
vile, shameful, or base character; depravity.
contumacious
a
stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.
pernicious
a
causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful
abstemious
a
sparing or moderate in eating and drinking; temperate in diet.
indolent
a
having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful
sycophant
n
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.
venerate
vo
to regard or treat with reverence; revere.
ineffable
a
incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible
cudgel
n
a short, thick stick used as a weapon; club.
ephemeral
a
lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory
petulent
easily annoyed or irritated
rancorous
a
full of or showing rancor
expiate
vo
to atone for; make amends or reparation for
virtuoso
n
a person who has special knowledge or skill in a field.
sobriquet
n
a nickname.
camaraderie
n
comradeship; good-fellowship.
emulate
vo
to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass
inevitable
a
unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary
pragmatic
a
of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
vitate
to make faulty or imperfect
lissome
a
lithesome or lithe, especially of body; supple; flexible.
loquacious
a
talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous
farrago
n
a confused mixture; hodgepodge; medley
compunction
n
a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.
ubiquitous
a
existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent
celerity
n
swiftness; speed.
exculpate
vo
to clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame; vindicate.
persiflage
n
light, bantering talk or writing.
malfeasance
n
the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law; wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of a public trust).
diaphanous
a
very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.
venal
a
willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary
indomitable
a
that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable
aquiesce
to accept or consent passively.
temerity
n
reckless boldness; rashness.
subterfuge
n
an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
disconsolate
a
without consolation or solace; hopelessly unhappy; inconsolable
officious
a
objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome
naive
a
having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous.
exiguous
a
scanty; meager; small; slender
renascent
a
being reborn; springing again into being or vigor
credulous
a
willing to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullible.
scintilla
n
a minute particle; spark; trace
puerile
a
of or pertaining to a child or to childhood.
acumen
n
keen insight; shrewdness
maudlin
a
tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
esurient
a
hungry; greedy.
interminable
a
incapable of being terminated; unending
malinger
vw
to pretend illness, especially in order to shirk one's duty, avoid work, etc.

Quick Study

Flashcards
Try Flashcards for a simple way to review the words in this list.

Quiz Types

Match
Crossword
Listen
Choose one of these quizzes to learn words by playing fast-paced games.
Similar to Words You Probably Don't Know - Expand Your Mind
$20 College Essay Words
by Dictionary.com
27 words

Choose a Game

  • match

    Match

    Match each word to its definition.

  • crossword

    Crossword

    Play these words in a crossword puzzle.

  • listen

    Listen

    Hear the word and select its definition.

  • flashcards

    Flashcards

    Practice terms and definitions at your own pace.

Rule Over: Words for Authority
by Dictionary.com
17 words

Choose a Game

  • match

    Match

    Match each word to its definition.

  • crossword

    Crossword

    Play these words in a crossword puzzle.

  • listen

    Listen

    Hear the word and select its definition.

  • flashcards

    Flashcards

    Practice terms and definitions at your own pace.

Basic SAT Vocabulary

5 lists

Play

 

Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.